Expansionism/Imperialism II

1. Expansionism/Imperialism II Crises in Hawaii, Venezuela, and Cuba: Even before Mahan’s book, The US Navy had Begun remodeling and modernizing it navy. NEW NAVY

2. Hawaii • Sugar Interest • 1887 US rights to Pearl Harbor • 1890 McKinley Tariff • How to get around the tariff • “Annexation Club” • 1893 overthrow of Queen Lil…warship Boston • President Harrison sends a treaty of Annexation • President Cleveland withdraws • 1898 McKinley reintroduces it and the Senate approves it.

3. The Venezuela Crisis 1895 • Opportunity for US to express it expansive mood. • For Years GB and Venezuela had squabbles over the Venezuela/British Guiana Border • Gold • Venezuela sought US help • July 1895---Pres. Cleveland had Sec. of State Olney threaten Britain under the terms of the Monroe Doctrine • GB needed US---beginning of US/GB friendship that last until today.

4. Cuban Revolution • Led by Jose Marti---the US supplied arms, money and supplies • A truly ugly war---barbarianism on both sides especially under General Weyler (“Butcher” Weyler) • Concentration Camps 1896 • YELLOW JOURNALISM---Hearst and Pulitzer • US Public Opinion sought direct intervention • US Businesses were severely hurt and wanted intervention too! • McKinley understood War----tried to avoid intervention. • The De Lome Letter • The Maine • War Fever • April 11 1898 Congress votes in favor of War • Teller Amendment

5. Spanish-American War • The US Army/Navy • Typical Volunteer • The Most Famous • The New Navy under Admiral Dewey destroys the Spanish Fleet in Manila.

6. William McKinley • Did an outstanding job as Commander-In-Chief • The State Dept. was in terrible shape and he personally took command. • Set up a War Room with full communication. • He was re-elected in 1900 with fresh face TR as V-P • Re-affirmed a Rep. majority beat WJ Bryan again • Revitalized the Presidency as the first strong President since Abe Lincoln • Our first “modern President” First to use commissions of experts help solve problems. First to use Newspapers to his advantage No real political enemies…Democrats liked and respected him---found him difficult to criticize.---set the stage for TR and Wilson.

7. Back to the War • Cuba gained it Independence---Teller Amendment • US got Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines • American Empire stretched into Asia • Missionaries into China • Puerto Rico gave the US a base from which to protect the Canal it hoped to build in Central America. Foraker Act.---not Henry!

8. “A Splendid Little War” • Secretary of Sate John Hay • 5400 Americans died…..379 from combat • Blacks fought in the war, no relief from Jim Crow • Treaty of Paris triggered an intense philosophical debate over the morality of colonialism…was it right for the US to have overseas possessions? • McKinley was convinced that the US was doing God’s work…. • Many others did not share his view.

9. Anti-Imperialist Arguments • Mark Twain, WJ Bryan, Andrew Carnegie, and Samuel Gompers • How could we get into a war to gain Cuban independence and wind up with the Philippines? • Violated the concept of self-determination. • Others felt it was an over reach of power for a President….disrupt checks and balances • WEB Dubois---subjugated people here in America • Gompers---cheapening American Labor. • Racism….

10. Imperialist Arguments • Referred to: Patriotism/Destiny/Commerce • “Our duty to civilize the barbarians” • If we did not take the Philippines, either Germany of Japan would • Argued it would be silly to give up something our soldiers had shed their blood for….other countries would laugh at us.

11. The Anti-Imperialist had a number of Handicaps: • We already had the Philippines • They were internally divided amongst themselves • Inconsistent in their reasoning and positions • Gompers • Carnegie • WJ Bryan • 1900 Election as a referendum on the morality of colonialism….McKinley soundly defeats WJ Bryan—this time the major issue was imperialism, and most Americans gave their approval.

12. Meanwhile back in the Philippines • Nationalist leader Emilio Aquinaldo felt betrayed by Admiral Dewey and the Treaty of Paris. • Led to the Philippine Revolution 1899-1901 • America was in an awkward position of suppression of an independence movement….we were the bad guys…the fighting went on until 1906---leaving the coast clear for an “Americanization” of the area • In other words the US subjugated the Philippine economy, passed a sedition act, and then vaguely promised independence once a “stable gov’t” was established [Jones Act 1916]—rule finally ended in 1946.

13. Cuba • Never was annexed, but the US controlled the island thanks to the Platt Amendment of 1901 • PLATT AMENDMENT: all treaties signed by Cuba had to be approved by the US -gave the US the right to intervene to maintain order -lease Guantanamo Bay sometimes called the Pearl Harbor of the Atlantic Result: the Platt Amendment made Cuba a virtual protectorate of the US for over 30 years

14. Cuba • America did do some good: built a highway system…public school system • Trained and established a Cuban Army • Eradicated malaria and yellow fever • BUT..…American businesses dominated the islands….by the 1930s we controlled 60% of the land---almost all of the sugar plantations, tobacco fields, mines, and utilities were American owned • Give you some idea why the US was and is still…….sooooo hated.

15. Panama Canal